swaddling - Mothercare

swaddling your baby
swaddling
all you need to know
Swaddling is the practice
of wrapping babies in
swaddling cloths, large
muslins, lightweight
blankets or cotton sheets.
Swaddling keeps a
baby’s arms close to their
body and legs snuggled
together, which may help
your baby to sleep soundly
and securely by recreating
the comfort and snugness
of the womb.
tips and advice...
lightweight
•choose
fabrics for good air
circulation, ideally soft
and stretchy to wrap
around baby’s body.
regularly check your
baby is in the correct
sleeping position, on their
back.
swaddling can help
relieve symptoms of colic
by providing gentle, even
pressure around the
abdomen.
swaddling may also help
with positioning your
baby for breastfeeding
by tucking away
wriggling little hands
and arms.
please remember
swaddling is only
intended for use with
young babies.
do not allow your
baby to get too warm
– regularly check your
baby’s temperature.
babies should not be
swaddled at every sleep
or nap time.
•
•
•
•
•
a helping hand for the first steps of parenting
•
how to breastfeed
swaddling
- all you need to know
1. lay baby on swaddling
blanket
to make sure swaddling is practiced safely, it is best to follow
the advice and diagrams within this leaflet and follow any
swaddling instructions you may receive.
how to swaddle
1. place baby as shown with their shoulders lined up with
straight edge of the blanket.
2. firmly pull one side of the swaddling blanket around the
baby and tuck it under baby’s arm and body
3. firmly pull the last side of the blanket around baby and tuck
underneath.
2. pull one side around
please remember...
is only recommended for the first 3-4 months.
•swaddling
your
baby
will
need to wear just a bodysuit (and sometimes
•a sleepsuit) underneath
the swaddling sheet or blanket.
But this will depend on the time of year (and the room
temperature).
you should stop swaddling before your baby starts learning
to roll over.
make sure the sheet or blanket is no higher than your
baby’s shoulders.
your baby’s head should never be covered with the
swaddling blanket, and needs to be clearly visible.
heavy blankets should not be used for swaddling due to the
risk of overheating
we recommend using a room thermometer, the ideal room
temperature for babies is between 16-20ºc.
you should look and feel your baby regularly when swaddled
to make sure they are comfortable and not too warm or
too cold.
always place your baby to sleep on his or her back.
ensure your baby is not swaddled too tightly to restrict
breathing, or too loosely so that your baby can move and
become entangled in the cloth.
it is important a baby can move with no restrictions
throughout the day. They need to develop their muscles,
which will help them, to crawl and sit in the future This is why
babies should not be swaddled at every sleep or nap time.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
3. pull last side around
swaddling blankets
•
find out more
www.mothercare.com
www.gurgle.com
ranges of sheets